By Lucy Caulkett-
Over 150 police officers have raided properties in Middlesborough, Teesside, Stockton and South Yorkshire, in a massive crackdown on people trafficking and sexual offences.
They crackdown was sparked by reports of several young women being trafficked and raped at different addresses. Eight people have been arrested in all- seven in Stockton on Tees, and one in Sheffield, police have said.
Cleveland Police officers were supported by a team from Immigration Enforcement.determined and we will bring you to justice.
The investigation is based on police intelligence that an unspecified number of young women have been trafficked within Cleveland for the purposes of sex over a number of months. They said intelligence is that victims were raped by multiple men after being driven to residential addresses. Cops say t an unknown number of young women from the Cleveland area have been driven to other parts of the country where they have fallen victim to sexual exploitation involving rape by multiple men.
Assistant Chief Constable Jason Harwin said:
“Clearly, to deploy 150 officers shows how seriously we take this.
“Human trafficking, the exploitation of the most vulnerable in our communities by the most ruthless, will not be accepted.
“To those who traffic in human beings, in human lives, who seek to gain from fear or weakness, our message is unequivocal; we are strong, we are determined and we will bring you to justice.”
ACC Harwin said the force had received intelligence that an unknown number of young women had been trafficked within the Cleveland force area for the purposes of sex over a number of months.
Reports said victims were raped by multiple men after being driven to residential addresses.
He said he was unable to give exact victim numbers at this time, or to say if any of them were juveniles.ere arrested on suspicion of offences including conspiracy to rape, conspiracy to traffic and blackmail.
Police and Crime Commissioner Barry Coppinger added:
“Tackling human trafficking and sexual exploitation is not just about police officers, we must all come together as a community if we are to make a real difference.“I would urge anyone who has been the victim of sexual exploitation to contact police or reach out to Cleveland Sexual Assault Referral Centre (SARC). The SARC is an essential facility for victims of this most serious crime and the support the centre offers victims in their greatest time of need is second to none.”Police officers are asking that anyone with information which might assist with this investigation, perhaps by recognising that they too have been the victims of such abuse, contact Cleveland Police on 101.Victims can also contact local charities and support groups, such as the Teesside Sexual Assault Referral Centre (SARC). Contact details for which are on the SARC website at www.sarcteesside.co.uk